“… if necessary, use words.”

Natasha thanked me for the book as she handed it back to me at the beginning of class. She had asked me several classes earlier if I could loan her a book to read that might help improve her English. It was encouraging to hear Natasha say that the book had helped her and answered a few important questions for her.

I always get excited when students ask me if they can borrow a book or some music because it’s a perfect opportunity to provide them with a resource created or published with the intention of drawing people closer to God. Natasha and her boyfriend, Victor, are in one of my ESL classes and they are also university students. I really enjoy having them in my class.

Actually, I am very pleased with all of my students this semester. It still surprises me sometimes how closely attached I can become to my students after such a short time together. Teaching English offers many ways in which to reach others with the message of God’s love and salvation. While I do hope that all of our students have the chance to hear this message, not all of the impact made on them comes through spoken words.

Being a teacher of any subject in any setting is both an amazing privilege and an awesome responsibility. In our words and our actions and through the way we interact with our students they get to see Christ. In many cases the attitude people form about Christ may be largely dependent on the witness they see in us.

God brings people into our lives and reveals things to us about them so that we can pray for them effectively. I have often heard comments from students about how they sense something different in us and our English school. Jesus Christ is that difference, and He is the reason we do all of this. Teaching English as a second language is a unique ministry. As relationships develop and trust is established, students of various ages and backgrounds begin to open up and share personal joys and struggles with their teachers.

Another semester is coming to a close. May we be faithful in these final weeks to take full advantage of every opportunity God gives us to be the salt and light He has called us to be.

Kent

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I'm usually aware of the risk involved in entering an ESL semester with all of our teachers under maximum work load. With everyone so busy, nobody is available to cover for a teacher if he or she becomes ill. Normally this has not been a big problem for us. This, however, was not a normal semester.

The past three months have been challenging for our team in Ukraine. We found ourselves with a shortage of teachers in fall but decided to offer our ESL program to as many students as possible. As a result, each of our teachers carried a heavy teaching load and each of us had our turn at experiencing illness to varying degrees before the semester was done.

Our schedule changed substantially to accommodate our students. Most of the teachers were unable to participate in weekly ministry and visits to children at a local orphanage. The ESL school's weekly evening program, open to students and non-students, was also postponed for the entire semester. Doors of opportunity have been opening in the local public schools and in other areas as well, but we have not been able to take full advantage because our team is small.

Please pray with us that God would equip and send more people to help with the exciting and fruitful work He is doing in Ukraine but be careful - He might use you to answer your own prayers!

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I want to share with you an awesome opportunity to reach out to another nationality. Teaching English as a second language brings people of all walks of life, from 10 years old to 65, straight to you. They are so eager to learn the language that they believe is their only chance for a better life. But we know the truth and we can share with them that the only way you find true meaning and purpose in life is when you give your life to God.

We had one student named Dima. He probably attended our school for 5 years before he found Christ. He watched and listened to and spent time with our teachers. And eventually he met Jesus. Now his whole family is following Christ.

All of our students have experienced studying in the public schools and many times even taken private English classes other places or hired tutors, but they see something different in our teachers. They see the love that comes from serving Christ and they see how much we care about them.

Have you ever thought about taking a break from the normal routine of life and dedicating that time to serving the Lord? Have you ever thought about taking a semester off from school to server the Lord full-time in some way? If you said 'YES" then this is the perfect opportunity for you. Our next semester begins mid-Jan.

Please don't let finances or anything else deter you if you know God wants you to serve Him in this way. If He calls you, He will provide all you need!!!! All you need is a high school education, a love for the Lord and desire to serve Him to qualify to be one of our English teachers.

If you have any other questions about being an ESL teacher in Ukraine contact C.O.I. as soon as possible. If you know that the Lord is not calling you to do this then I challenge you to tell everyone you know who loves the Lord and has thought about missionary work or is wanting to serve the Lord overseas about C.O.I. and the opportunities in Ukraine

God bless you all and may He use you as a missionary right where you are to share the good news of Christ!!!

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